“Do you need anything?”

I was going through my inbox today and I came across this devotion. The message really resonated with me, and I think it’s a concept many people struggle with from time to time.  It’s so much easier to help others than to ask for help ourselves. Asking for help can seem burdensome, but it’s an essential part of community.

I hope these words bless you as much as they blessed me.  I encourage you this week to identify one of those people in your life God has sent to help carry your load. 

It is a blessing to be your pastor and be in ministry alongside you to an amazing God.

Blessings,

Chris

Asking For Help Stinks!

God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” —James 4:6

So, carrying burdens is something for which we are built . . . and something which we are supposed to do, as men. God designed us, built us, intends us—to lend our strength to others, to those who need it. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). The problem is, most of us read Scripture one way only: that we are to carry burdens for others. Few read it the other way: that we must allow others to carry our burdens too. We don’t really like that reading. That reading causes our pride to rise up.

Like it or not, though, any one of us can carry only so much. Sure, we can “gut it out” with burdens that are too heavy . . . for a while, at least. Before long, however, they begin to grind us down. Anger, anxiety, burnout, depression and despondency, isolation and loneliness, or rebellion and sin emerge . . . simply because we’re neither designed, nor built, nor intended to carry our burdens alone. “One’s pride will bring him low” (Proverbs 29:23).

Okay, so what do we do?

Is there something you’re carrying that’s feeling too heavy? The burden of being a provider? Fears about finances . . . about work? The burden of children living up to expectations, in school, in athletics? A hidden sin? A hidden addiction? Another burden, perhaps?

If so, look around for that person with whom God intends you to share it . . . your friend, your spouse. Go to them today. Die to pride. Let them in. Explain the situation and let them respond. Fulfilling the law of Christ also means that we must, sometimes, surrender our pride, surrender the images we have of ourselves, get over ourselves, and ask for help. We are meant to live free and fast and light . . . and together.

Mission

To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Vision

Nelson Memorial UMC seeks to be a place where all God’s broken, hurting, and imperfect children discover wholeness and community while experiencing the warm and welcoming love of Jesus Christ.  We seek to connect with one another to grow in our knowledge and love of God, to encourage each person to live out their unique calling to serve God, and to make a difference in the Boonville community and throughout the world.

Priorities

Developing and Nurturing Faith in Children and Youth

Fostering Growth and Community in Worship and Small Groups

Provide Opportunities to Serve God in Boonville and Beyond

Worship This Week

This Sunday we will conclude our message series titled Blueprints of Grace.  This series is an introduction to the 3 different ways or stages we experience God’s grace.  John Wesley taught these stages by using the metaphor of a house.  This week, as we look at the third of these stages of grace, we will spend time considering the interior of the house.  The scripture this week will be from the book of Hebrews, Chapter 10, verses 19-25:

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we might spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the most as you see the Day approaching.” 

Our services will begin with the song Less Like Me by Zach Williams.  Our hymns for the morning include He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought and Have thine Own Way, Lord.  Our praise song will be More Like You. 

Virtual Worship Information

In addition to in-person worship, each Sunday we will live-stream our 10:20 worship service. The service can be viewed on our Facebook Page.  The service will start at approximately10:25 following the Gathering Song.  Additionally, we post a recording of our message each week to our website by early Sunday afternoon. 

Announcements

Blood Drive – Thank you to everyone who came out to the blood drive this week.  17 units of blood were collected, with the potential to help nearly 70 people!  Stay tuned for details about the next blood drive later this year.

KIDS HOPE USA – Did you know that our church is blessed to participate in a really amazing ministry called Kids Hope USA?  For those not familiar with Kids Hope, it is a program that matches an adult with a student in grades 3-5.  They spend one hour a week together doing a variety of things – reading, completing worksheets, playing board games, playing basketball – and most importantly, developing relationships.  Many of the kids in Kids Hope could benefit from having another adult in their life who cares about them (and really, what kid couldn’t use this).  The times are flexible, you can even do it virtually if needed. 

If you are interested in becoming a mentor to a child at David Barton Elementary, you can do two things: 1) talk to one of our current mentors about the experience and difference this makes, and 2) let Debbie Maxwell, our KIDS HOPE Coordinator know that you are interested!

Church Picnic August 28 – Time for Some Food and Fun – The United Methodist Men are hosting our Annual Church Picnic Sunday, August 28 at 6:00 pm.  We will gather at the church yard.  UMM will provide the meat and drinks.  Please bring a dish to share and also a (lawn chair or blanket). Feel free to invite friends, family and neighbors to join in on the fun.

North Central District Kickoff –

Last month we shared that the district our church belongs to, the North Central District of the Missouri Annual Conference, has expanded its geographical boundaries and added more churches.  Coming up on September 10, the Distrcit is hosting a “kickoff” event at Central Methodist University.  This event will begin at 11:00 am and include a time of fellowship, campus tours, all kinds of activities for kids (and kids at heart), a tailgate party prior to the CMU football game, and attending the football game together.  Not only is all this happening close to home, it is free for everyone.  Each church is encouraged to have as many people attend as possible.  Registration is requested.  Please register here.  If you don’t already have plans for September 10, please consider joining in this time of fun, friendship, and football!

Becoming a Liturgist – If you are interested in helping in worship through our Liturgist Ministry (being the one up front who reads the Call to Worship and some of the other worship emelents), please let Pastor Chris or Debra know.  The schedule gets updated every few months, and we are putting together the next few month’s schedule.  Each liturgist takes a turn once every 6-8 weeks or so (this depends on how many liturgists we have).  Again, if you’d like to participate in this ministry, please let Pastor Chris or Debra know and we can give you more information.  Even if you’d prefer not to be on the schedule but would be willing to be a backup or substitute, that is always needed as well.

Choir is Back – Choir rehearsals for the Methodist Music Makers will be the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm in the Sanctuary. We are always welcoming new singers and hope to see you there!   The next choir rehearsal will be September 6.  Please contact Leah Gumbel for additional information.

Events this week:

Saturday, August 20: Methodist Men, 8:30 am, Church Lounge

Sunday, August 21: Prayers for Boonville Schools, 1:00 pm, Boonville School Parking Lots

Monday, August 22: TOPS, 9:00 am, Foundations Classroom

Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Tuesday, August 23: First Day of School, Boonville and New Franklin Schools

Wednesday, August 24: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15 am, Lounge

Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall

Praise Band Rehearsal, 6:00 pm, Sanctuary

Friday, August 26: Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Sunday, August 28: All Church Picnic, 6:00 pm, Church Yard

Closing Words of Wisdom:

“Dependence starts when we are born and lasts until we die. We accept our dependence as babies and ultimately, with varying degrees of resistance, we accept help when we get to the end of our lives. But in the middle of our lives, we mistakenly fall prey to the myth that successful people are those that help rather than need, and broken people need rather than help.
Given enough resources, we can even pay for help and create the mirage that we are completely self-sufficient. But the truth is that no amount of money, influence, resources, or determination will change our physical, emotional, and spiritual dependence on others.”
― Brené Brown